Italian Citizenship by Marriage: Timelines, B1 Language Requirement and Questura Checks

When you can apply: timelines by marriage

Citizenship through marriage to an Italian citizen (cittadinanza per matrimonio) is governed by Law No. 91 of 1992. It is a standalone procedure, distinct from ten-year naturalisation: the count runs not from the start of your residence, but from the date the marriage was contracted — which is why, for many couples, this route is noticeably faster.

The key rule on timelines works like this. The right to submit an application arises:

• after 2 years from the marriage — if the spouses lawfully reside in Italy (both registered at their place of residence, residenza anagrafica);
• after 3 years from the marriage — if the spouses live abroad, outside Italian territory.

Where there are children born or adopted during the marriage, these periods are halved: a couple living in Italy with a shared child can apply as early as one year after the wedding, and a couple abroad with a child after 18 months. This is one of the most important concessions in the procedure, and one that people often forget.

Do not confuse the two timeframes: the first is when the right to apply arises; the second is how long the State takes to examine the application, discussed below.

There is one more fundamental requirement: the marriage and cohabitation must be maintained right up to the issue of the decree. If, before that date, the spouses divorce or a court-ordered legal separation takes effect (separazione legale), the application is rejected — even if every condition was met when it was filed.

Cohabitation and a valid marriage

Cohabitation (convivenza) is the heart of the procedure. Citizenship is granted not for a formal stamp, but for a genuine family union, so the State checks whether the spouses really live together and share a household.

What "lawfully residing in Italy" means

For the two-year period, it is not enough that one spouse holds Italian citizenship. Both spouses must be registered at the same address in the comune's register of residents (anagrafe). A shared residenza anagrafica is the first and simplest proof that you live together; registration at different addresses immediately raises questions for the prefettura about the reality of the union.

A foreign spouse (not an Italian or EU citizen) needs a valid residence permit to register their residenza — most often the permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari, issued on the basis of the marriage. So it is worth putting your immigration status in order before you apply.

A valid marriage right up to the decree

The law expressly requires that, at the moment the decision is taken:

• the marriage remains valid — not dissolved and not annulled;
• there is no court-ordered legal separation (separazione legale);
• the spouses have not, in fact, ceased their shared life.

The procedure is therefore vulnerable to family changes throughout the examination. The death of a spouse, divorce or legal separation while the decree is pending leads to a refusal, and a de facto separation likewise becomes grounds for refusal if it is discovered.

The B1 Italian language certificate

With the 2018 reform, knowledge of Italian at level B1 on the CEFR scale became a mandatory condition for citizenship, both by naturalisation and by marriage. Without a valid certificate, the application will not be examined on the merits — this is a requirement checked at the very outset.

Which certificate is accepted

Proof of the B1 level is a certificate from one of four accredited bodies recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education:

• CILS — Università per Stranieri di Siena;
• CELI — Università per Stranieri di Perugia;
• PLIDA — Società Dante Alighieri;
• Cert.it — Università Roma Tre.

Level B1 or higher is accepted (B2, C1, C2). A language-course diploma or a non-accredited online certificate will not do — you need precisely the official certificate of one of the institutions listed above.

Who is exempt from the exam

Exempt from the exam are those who hold an EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) or who signed an integration agreement (accordo di integrazione), since they have already demonstrated their language knowledge, as well as holders of an Italian diploma. That said, these grounds should be checked case by case: the safest option is still to hold a valid B1 certificate.

Checking the authenticity of the marriage

Because marriage gives accelerated access to citizenship, the State checks whether the union is a sham (matrimonio di comodo). Verifying the authenticity of the marriage is one of the central elements of the procedure, and it is here that a share of applications stumble.

What exactly is checked

The authorities assess the whole set of circumstances that make up a genuine family union:

• a shared address and the length of the cohabitation;
• a shared home life — a rental or property owned jointly, utility bills in both names;
• shared finances — a joint account, shared expenses, mutual support;
• the presence of shared children;
• the history of the relationship, trips together, photos, correspondence;
• knowledge of each other — basic facts about the partner, their family, their job.

How the check works in practice

The check takes different forms: often it is an analysis of documents and a request for further evidence of shared life. Where there are doubts, a visit to the place of residence is possible (usually by the Carabinieri or police) to establish genuine cohabitation, and sometimes separate interviews with each spouse, to compare their answers.

What can put the authorities on alert: a large age gap with no other signs of a union, no common language, registration at different addresses, a very short interval between meeting and marrying. No single factor is a verdict on its own, but a combination of them raises the likelihood of a check.

The role of the prefettura and questura

Several State bodies are involved in the procedure, and confusion about their roles is a frequent source of applicant errors.

The Ministero dell'Interno and the online portal

The application is submitted online through the portal of the Ministry of the Interior (Ministero dell'Interno). It is this ministry that makes the final decision and issues the decree. A paper filing through the prefettura is not available for this category — the process is digital from the outset.

Prefettura: examination and building the dossier

The prefettura is the territorial arm of the Ministry of the Interior for your place of residence. It is the prefettura that:

• receives and checks the completeness of your dossier;
• summons the applicant to verify the original documents;
• initiates the marriage-authenticity checks and gathers the findings of other bodies;
• forms a reasoned opinion and forwards the case to the ministry.

In practice the prefettura is the main working authority on the ground, and its requests should be met promptly.

Questura: security checks

The questura is the local police headquarters. In the citizenship procedure it is responsible for the security and good-standing checks: criminal records, criminal proceedings, immigration data. Often the checks on genuine cohabitation are also carried out through the questura. A negative opinion from the questura can become grounds for refusal even where the package is formally complete.

The complete document package

The exact list should be checked against the current requirements of your specific prefettura, because the details vary. Nonetheless, the core package for an application "by marriage" is stable.

The applicant's personal documents

• a valid foreign passport (a copy of all completed pages);
• a valid residence permit — permesso di soggiorno;
• codice fiscale (the tax code);
• a residence certificate — certificato di residenza, often the historical version, which shows the spouses' cohabitation.

Documents about the marriage and family

• the marriage certificate — for marriages contracted abroad, in transcribed form (entered into the Italian register);
• birth certificates of any shared children (where they exist, these are what halve the required period);
• a document confirming the Italian citizenship of the husband or wife.

Documents from the country of origin

• the applicant's birth certificate with an apostille and a sworn translation into Italian;
• a criminal-record certificate (certificato penale) from the country of origin and from countries of long-term residence — also with an apostille and translation.

Language, payment and credentials

• an Italian language certificate at level B1 from an accredited body;
• a receipt for the state fee of 250 euros;
• a marca da bollo (revenue stamp) — 16 euros;
• a valid email address and SPID digital identity to log in to the portal.

Documents from abroad require legalisation or an apostille and a sworn translation into Italian — often the longest stage. Start gathering certificates from Ukraine early: a criminal-record certificate and a re-issued birth certificate can take weeks to produce.

How to submit the application and how long it takes

The procedure is fully digital, and in formal terms you can complete it yourself. But because of the language barrier, document legalisation and the risk of checks, many couples turn to legal support. Here is the route step by step.

The step-by-step sequence

• Step 1. Check your right to apply: whether 2 years (in Italy) or 3 (abroad) have passed since the marriage was recognised, taking into account the halving where there are children.
• Step 2. Sit the exam and obtain the B1 certificate.
• Step 3. Gather the documents from your country of origin with an apostille and a sworn translation.
• Step 4. Register on the Ministero dell'Interno portal via SPID, complete the application, upload the scans and pay the 250-euro fee.
• Step 5. Wait for the summons to the prefettura to verify the originals and provide additional evidence of shared life if needed.
• Step 6. Undergo the checks — of documents, security and, possibly, genuine cohabitation.
• Step 7. Receive the decree and take the oath (giuramento) at the comune.

The oath — the final step

Even a favourable decree does not yet make you a citizen. The last stage is the oath of loyalty to the Republic (giuramento di fedeltà) at the comune. Citizenship takes effect the day after the oath, and it must be taken within six months of notification, otherwise the decree loses its force.

How long the examination takes

The maximum examination period is set by law and, in practice, is usually up to two years from filing, although the actual timeframe depends on how busy the prefettura is and how complete the dossier is. Delays are most often caused by an incomplete package, translation errors or requests for evidence. The better the dossier, the faster the examination.

Reasons for refusal (diniego)

A refusal is issued as a diniego — a reasoned decision rejecting the application. Knowing the typical reasons helps you avoid them at the preparation stage. Here are the most common grounds in the "by marriage" procedure.

• The end of the marriage or shared life before the decree. Divorce, annulment, legal separation or the de facto end of shared life at the moment of the decision — the most fatal reason.
• Suspicion of a sham marriage. The check did not confirm a genuine union: contradictory answers at interviews, no shared home life, different addresses.
• A missing or invalid B1 certificate. A non-accredited certificate, or its absence, blocks examination on the merits.
• Good-standing problems. Criminal records, criminal proceedings, data that spoil the questura's security check.
• An incomplete or incorrectly prepared package. A missing apostille, a non-sworn translation, an untranscribed marriage, expired certificates.
• Discrepancies in the data. Different spellings of names across documents from different countries, mismatched dates.

Importantly, a diniego is not always the final word. The decision can be challenged within the set deadline before the administrative court (TAR), and sometimes it is more sensible to fix the shortcoming and re-file the application. The choice of strategy depends on the ground for the refusal.

Frequently asked questions

Can we apply for citizenship by marriage if we married in Ukraine?

Yes, but a marriage contracted abroad must first be transcribed — entered into the Italian register through a consulate or the comune. The clock runs from the official recognition of the marriage in Italy, not from the wedding date. Without transcription, the application will not be accepted.

We have a shared child. Does that really halve the period?

Yes. Where there are children born or adopted during the marriage, the periods are halved exactly: instead of 2 years in Italy — 1 year, instead of 3 abroad — 18 months. The child's birth certificate is a mandatory part of the package.

What happens if we divorce while the application is being examined?

If the marriage is dissolved, annulled, or a legal separation (separazione legale) takes effect before the decree is issued, citizenship will be refused: the law requires the marriage and shared life to be maintained up to the moment of the decision. That is why any family-law step during the examination is best coordinated with a lawyer.

Do I really need level B1 if I already speak Italian well?

Yes, you need precisely an official B1 certificate from an accredited body (CILS, CELI, PLIDA or Cert.it) — actual command of the language without a document does not count. The exception is certain categories that have already demonstrated their language knowledge for other permits.

Can I work and live in Italy on a family permit while I wait?

Yes. The permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari gives the right to work in Italy, and waiting for the decision does not limit this. The main thing is to keep the permit valid and your residence registration continuous, since both are checked up to the decree.

The "by marriage" procedure is a faster route to an Italian passport than ten-year naturalisation, because family is recognised as a sufficient basis for belonging to the country. But precisely because it is attractive, it comes with heightened checks. Success depends not on luck, but on careful preparation: a timely B1 certificate, a correctly transcribed marriage, a consistent "dossier of your real life" and respect for the oath deadlines.

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